Starting apparatus



' Sept. 8, 1925. 1,552,745

W. E. KERNS l STARTING APPARATU S Filed MaICh 23, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f/rear v y /MAv-w attoz neig sept. s, l'ss. 1,552,545v

W. E. KERNS STARTING APPARATUS Filed March 23, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE-f.

WILLIAM E. kanns, orvIN'IoN, IOWA.

sraarrivek APPARATUS.

Application mea Marcil as, 1925. serial' N6. ikfe.

starting apparatus adapted for use in con-'y nection with internalv combustion engines yand the like.A

- An important object ofthe invention is to provide a cranking apparatus wherein the crank isreadily removable.V

'A furtherV object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of the above character which may be readily Inounted in "association with theV conventional types of internal combustion engines and greatly facilitate tliestarting thereof.y

A stillV further' object of the invention is thep-rovisionfofa cranking apparatus of the above vcharacter which is positive and coinparatively safe in operation yet simple and durable of construction.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the descriptionv progresses. l f

In: the accompanying drawing, forming a part of tli'isspe'cilication and in which like numerals are employed to v'designate corre'` sponding parts throughout the same Figure 1 is a side elevation of my ini. proved apparatus shown in the inoperative position with the starting crank withdrawn,

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the deL vice in operative position and the crank insei-ted,V Y v Figure 3 is an end elevation of the. de vice,v Y

Figure taken on the line l-t of Figure 2, 'and AFigure 5 is a perspective View of a portion of the crank member. i

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred emb'odi ment of my invention, the numeral l0 gen-A erally indicates the body or casing of my improved apparatus lwhich is of lmetallic construction 'and oblong in cross section, the upper and lower edges being rounded as clearly illustrated in Figures 3 anda. The upper portion ofthe body is provided with square bore 11 extendingv longitudinally through the' body. The lower portion of the body yor 'casing 10 is provided with a someV` 4t is a transverse sectional viewA i what larger circular bore -12 also extending longitudinally therethrough and communicating vwith the exterior of the body by meansof an an"ular` oil groove 1S. y

Slidably' fitted in the yupper `bore 11 is square guide shaft 14 vsubstantially longer than .the body Aand providedu'pon one ez;-V

tr'efniityvwithfan offset extension k15' entending In parallel alignment with the shaft 14 upon a somewhat lower plane. Formedon the` forward extremity of the extension 15 is a U substantially semiscircular bracket 16 carrying on each end horizontally extending earsV provided with vsuitable apertures 18 to permit .fastening 'of the device in association with an i l frani: v l w g Rotatably mimted in the 'lower bere' 12' `is* a cylindricalsleeve 19 having f orni'ed on the rear extremity thereof a ratchet 20. .The f rear edge of the ratchet is yprovided with a pluralit' of arcuate pin engaging' teeth 21 of the smep- Extending thruga the'greaer portion of the sleeve'lgand communicating witlfrthefoif'wa'rd etremity ther'ef is a substantially square bore 22 adapted'to' receive therein a 'portieri of the @rename-mbar@ b`e hereinafter' more'rfully described.V The sleeveris retained against longitudinal movement by means yof ac'ollar 2B rigidly 'secured 'to' the forward' .extension of the sleeve' set screws 24'. j

Detachably engageable with the rotatable sleeve ineinber 19'is an angular crank '25v the body of which is of tlie'usiial construction while the iipper. engag'eable extension 26 is" provided adjacentthe eiitreinity with a sdiiare sliaik2'7, the eXtreme end of which is beveled top'errnit convenient engagement with .the bore 22 forrn'ed in the sleeve. The edges of the outer extremity'of the' bore '22 are also beveled as at 29 for the' reception of the crank. The opposite extremity of the crank 25 is provided with the usual handle member, not showmwhereby the crank may, be readily rotated for starting the motor.

` Itss customary in devices of this charact'er to provide means o'r normally forcing the` ratchet out of engagement with the crank Shaft inor'der to prevent violent rotal tion of the Starting Crank with the Shaft and the danger of injury by such action. I ac'-A complish this by the provision of a coiled compressionspril'lg 30 positioned about the rear XtlSiOIi 0f the Shaft 14, restraining internal combustion lengine engagea 4le with the crank pin for rotationv this spring against displacenient by a cotter pin 31 positioned through a suitable bore formed adjacent the end of the shaft. The spring 30 exerts pressure against the rear portion of the body or casing 10 and normally forces same tightly against the vertical connection bar 32 connecting the guide shaft 14 with the offset extension 15, the tension of this spring being so regulated as to readily move the casing upon the guide shaft but permit compression thereof by the operator without extraordinary effort.

The device may be readily used upon the common forms of automobiles, tractors and similar vehicles but is especially adaptable for use upon the well known Ford type of automobile. lNhen mounting the apparatus upon t-he Ford car the bracket 16 replaces the usual crank case bearing cap and is secured in position by two bolts. The casing then snugly fits in the forward ext-ension of the crank case and is ready for use.

In using my improved apparatus, the crank 25 may be carried in any convenient place upon the automobile and when it is necessary to crank the motor for starting purposes may be readily inserted by engaging the shank 27 formed in the sleeve 19. The opera-tor then pushes forward on the crank and causes the body or casing 10 to slide upon the guide shaft 14 until the ratchet 2O engages the transversely positioned pin mounted on the forward end of `the crank shaft. The crank handle is then rotated until the motor has been started after which the axial pressure exerted upon the crank is relaxed and the casing permitted to move to the forward portion of the guide shaft 14 and the crank removed. Thus it is seen that the crank may be very readily and positively connected with the rotatable sleeve for efficiently turning over t-he motor.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and that various changes as to the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a casing, guide means adapted to permit longitudinal movement of the casing, means for normally forcing the casing toward one end of the said guide means, a rotatable member mounted in the said casing, crank shaft engaging means carried by the said rotatable member, and means for positively connecting the crank with the said rotatable member. v

2. In a device of the class described, a body, a guide shaft adapted to permit longitudinal movement of the said body, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the said body, and means for connecting a. crank with the said sleeve.

3. In a device of the class described, a body, a guide shaftextending through the upper portion of the body adapted to permit movement of the body thereon, means for normally forcing the body to the forward portion of the guide shaft, a sleeve rotatably mountedkin the lower portion of the body, a crank pin ratchet carried by the said sleeve, a crank adapted to rotate the said sleeve and means for positively connecting the said crank with the sleeve.

4. In a device of the class described, a substantially oblong casing member, a guide shaftthrough the upper port-ion of the casing,means for normally forcing the casing upon the forward portion of the said guide shaft, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the lower portion of the casing, a crank pin ratchet carried by the rear extension of the said sleeve, a crank, and means for positively connecting the said cra-nk with the said rotatable sleeve.

5. In a device of the class described, a casing having a longitudinal bore formed in the upper portion and a similar bore formed in the lower portion, a guide shaft slidably mounted in the upper bore, means formed on one end of the guide shaft for connection with an internal combustion engine, spring means carried by the opposite end of the guide shaft for normally forcing the casing upon the forward portion thereof, Va sleeve rotatably mounted in the lower bore, a ratchet carried by the forward end of the said sleeve, means for preventing displacement of the said sleeve, a. crank having a rectangular extension, and means for engaging the said crank with the rotatable sleeve.

6. In-a device of the class described, a casing of substantially oblong cross section having a longitudinal bore formed in the upper portion and a similar bore formed in the lower portion thereof, a guide shaft extending through the upper bore, means formed on the guide shaft for securing the same in connection with an internal combustion engine, a coiled spring mounted on the opposite end of the guide shaft adapted to normally force the casing on the forward portion thereof, a. rotatable sleeve mounted in the lower bore of the casing, a ratchet carried by the said sleeve, a collar secured to the opposite end of the said sleeve for preventing displacement thereof, a crank shaft having a rectangular extension, and means whereby the said extension may positively engage the said rotatable sleeve.

7 A device of the class described including a casing having a square bore formed in the upper portion and a circular bore in als the lower portion thereof, a shaft ext-ending through the upper bore adapted to guidel the casing, an offset extension formed on the forward extremityl bracket means formed on lthe ends of the said extensions, a spring carried by the rear extremity of the guide lshaft, a Sleeve rotatably mounted in the lower bore of the casing,A a ratchet carried by the said sleeve, the forward portion of the said sleeve being provided with an internal opening, a crank having a rectangular' extension, and means whereby the said extension may engage the opening formed in the saidV rotatable sleeve.

S. Al device of the Glass described in- Vof the guide shaft,

cludng a casing, a guide shaft adapted-to support the said casing, means for connecting the said guide sha-ft upon an internal combustion engine, means for nor# mall forcing the casmg toward the forward port-ion of the guide shaft, a rotatable sleeve mounted provided with a rectangular bore, a ratchet carried by the said sleeve, means for preventing `displacement of the said sleeve, a cranlr'shafthaving a rectangular extension, and means whereby Ythe said crank shaft extension may engage the bore of the rotatable'sleeve for operation of the same.

In te-stimonywhereof I allix my signature.

` WILLIAM E. KERNS.

in the lower portion of the casingv 

